PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Fridman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Kovas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fridman comes to the cage accompanied by Red. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kovas's choice of entrance music: Bankrobber by The Clash . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fridman
vs
Kovas

190 cm
24
230 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

190 cm
20
252 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Fridman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Kovas!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovas lands with a shot to the body.
Fridman thows a body shot but no joy.
Kovas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kovas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Kovas does it's job there.
Fridman throws a combination. Kovas tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fridman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kovas to score with a decent uppercut.
Fridman misses with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Fridman.
Fridman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fridman throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fridman throws a series of punches but Kovas avoids them all with ease.
Kovas misses the shot to the body.
Kovas scores with the left hand. Fridman knows he should have avoided that one.
Kovas looks to land a combination but Fridman avoids it well.
A slow jab from Kovas misses its intended target.
Victor Kovas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fridman moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Fridman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kovas.
Kovas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fridman misses with a hook.
Kovas misses with a series of wild punches.
Kovas misses with a combination

and Fridman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fridman.

Fridman breaks the clinch.
Fridman bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kovas's head.
A left and a right from Kovas both land. Nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fridman throws a nice outside leg kick.
No joy there for Kovas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kovas throws a combination that misses
and Fridman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kovas looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fridman misses with a series of wild punches.
Fridman throws a series of punches but Kovas avoids them all with ease.
Fridman misses with a hook. Kovas ducked under it nicely.
Kovas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Fridman to counter with a crisp jab.
Kovas scores with a hook to the body. Fridman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fridman throws a hook but Kovas blocks it.
A combination from Fridman does no damage.
Kovas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Fridman.
Kovas throws a series of punches but Fridman moves out of range.
Kovas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kovas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A combination from Kovas does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Fridman counters with a thumping low kick.
Fridman feints and then cracks Kovas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kovas down.
Fridman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Kovas counter with a right hand.
Fridman scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fridman lands with a nice combination. Kovas backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Victor Kovas has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fridman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kovas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fridman.
Fridman shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Fridman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovas misses with a combination
and Fridman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Fridman!
Fridman looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovas is just out of range.
Kovas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fridman has time to react.
Fridman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kovas.
Kovas lands an overhand right.
Kovas throws a predictable looking body shot
and Fridman counters with a stiff right hand.
Kovas throws a big shot that misses.
A cross from Kovas lands.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fridman.
Fridman looks to land a left hand but Kovas moved out of range nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kovas ducks under a wild hook from Fridman.
Fridman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kovas.
Fridman misses with a double jab
and Fridman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Fridman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Victor Kovas's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fridman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice uppercut there from Fridman.
Kovas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kovas throws a combination that misses
and Fridman counters with a series of strikes. Kovas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kovas lands with a cross.
Kovas slips a jab and a cross from Fridman.
A shot to de liver by Kovas. Beautiful body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kovas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kovas connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fridman. Fridman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice shot by Kovas.
Fridman misses with a hook.
Kovas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fridman.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovas misses with a double jab
and Fridman counters with a three punch combo that has Kovas backing up. Kovas nods at Fridman to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kovas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kovas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fridman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fridman throws a leg kick but Kovas sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kovas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kovas misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Kovas.
Fridman avoids the body shot from Kovas.
Kovas scores with a hook.
Fridman shoots in for a double leg but Kovas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kovas misses with a double jab
and Fridman counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fridman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Kovas.
Fridman throws a push kick but Kovas slaps the foot to one side.
Kovas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kovas misses with a double jab.
Fridman walks into a left hand.
Fridman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kovas scores with a hook to the body. Fridman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fridman ducks under a wild hook from Kovas.
A left lands for Kovas.
Kovas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No luck for Fridman with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Kovas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kovas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kovas misses with a combination
and Fridman counters with a thumping low kick.
Kovas misses with a wild combination.
Kovas swings for the body but Fridman moves out of range.
Kovas throws out a loose jab but Fridman uses good head movement to avoid it.
A big left from Fridman misses.
Fridman looks to land a left hand but Kovas moved out of range nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fridman.
Kovas misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Fridman.
Kovas looks to land a left hand but Fridman moved out of range nicely.
Fridman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alex Fridman is winning the standup battle so far.
Fridman keeps Kovas at a distance using the push kick.
Kovas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fridman.
Fridman blocks a jab.
Fridman misses with a body shot
and Kovas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jab, jab by Fridman - just one landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fridman is defended easily by Kovas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Fridman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovas misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Kovas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Victor Kovas's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fridman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kovas.
Kovas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fridman throws a good cross that connects.
Fridman avoids the body shot from Kovas.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fridman.
Kovas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Fridman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kovas.
Fridman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fridman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kovas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice inside leg kick there by Fridman. That's going to slow Kovas down.
Fridman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fridman lands a slapping body shot.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Fridman looks to land a combination. Kovas sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fridman lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Fridman cracks Kovas with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fridman throws a leg kick which misses Kovas's front leg but catches the back leg as Kovas tries to avoid it.

Fridman has Kovas up against the cage in a clinch.

Fridman breaks the clinch.
Fridman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kovas counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fridman ducks under a wild hook from Kovas.
Danga de danga de dang - Fridman scores with a four punch combination!
Kovas misses with a body punch
and Fridman counters with a good low kick that Kovas was not able to check.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kovas takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fridman feints and as Kovas raises his hands in defense, Fridman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fridman wants to stand but Kovas is controlling his posture from full guard.

Kovas has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fridman is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kovas.
Fridman controls the position from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Kovas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fridman controlling from side mount.
Kovas is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kovas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fridman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kovas is trying to maintain the position but Fridman is very close to passing his half guard.
Kovas is trying to control but Fridman passes into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Fridman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fridman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Fridman!